JoySample

DAY 4: HE WILL NOT ABANDON ME

When I look back at the most difficult moments in my life, I only vaguely remember the details of those times. It’s hard to remember everywhere I went or everything I did. I can’t recall how my hair was styled, or what I ate for dinner. At the darkest of times, it seemed as though I were going through life in a blur. All I can really recall from those times is the extreme exhaustion. It felt as though I was wasting away in an endless sea of sleepless nights and days with no appetite. As the stress increased, my concern for myself and my health diminished, and my body weakened. Even when I closed my eyes to rest, there was no rest to be found.

We can rest confidently in hope, because our God doesn’t forget about us in the land of the dead. “My body also will rest in hope, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead.” 

If you look for the passage above in the Bible, you will find it in two different places. The psalmist wrote them originally, but the words were prophetic and described how Jesus felt when he was crucified. King David spoke of the land of the dead as he described overcoming deep emotional despair. Jesus had to actually descend to the land of the dead (into hell) after he was crucified in order to conquer death for us. 

The situations were similar: both had to brave what looked like ultimate defeat, yet neither was abandoned by their Heavenly Father. Ultimately, they both conquered the place that threatened to defeat them, and were filled with the joy of the presence of God. Our takeaway is this: the realm of the dead is not our final destination. It is a passageway through to His presence, where there is fullness of joy. He will not leave you in your pain forever. His intention is to restore you and uplift you. “You will not let your holy one see decay.” What is more, He will not allow you to decay in the process. Have you ever questioned whether you will be left in one piece after a storm in your life? Sometimes it can seem as though the battle has deteriorated us, and worn us down. 

The word decay means to decline in excellence, health or prosperity. Decay occurs when we gradually become less of who God made us to be, and more of what the realm of the dead has gotten us used to. Little by little, many who have experienced heartache find that they don’t smile like they used to, or can’t trust anymore. Their bodies are exhausted, and their spirit has been crushed. They experience a sad truth that is described in Proverbs: A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones (Proverbs 17:22). If today you find yourself feeling lost in a season of death and sorrow, know that God does not intend to leave you there. As I said in the first chapter of this book, your pain is not your final destination, but a bridge to a double portion of joy.

Thoughts for Meditation: 

Where do I find myself at this moment in my life? Do I feel as though I am in the realm of the dead? Do my soul and spirit need to rest in hope? Am I tired of the battle I have been fighting? What kind of decay have I seen in my heart? How can I ask God to restore to me the joy of His presence?

Prayer: 

Dear Lord, I thank you because I know you will never abandon me to the realm of the dead. Instead, you protect me from decay and total deterioration. Restore me, Lord. Bring me life, again. Fill me with the joy of your presence. Make known to me the paths of life.